The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-26
IN THE DENVER-STAGE.
Captain Cummings Tells the Story
of a Midnight Murder.

Ten years ago the excitement Of the
hay in Denver reached its climax when
CAPTAIN Bill Cummings drove the
Leadville coach out of the stablc-yard
and pulled up in front Of the United
States Hotel. In anticipation of the
great daily event, crowd always be-
gan 10 gather an hour or two before
the time set for the stage : departure.
To pass the time pleasantly, the crowd,
all of whom wore big slouch hats and
carried pistols, spccuatcd on the
chances of the stages getting To it's
destination, and told wild stories of the
last time Captain Bill had been "hcId
up and how much the express COM
pany had lost when the highwaymcn
broke open the box after killing the
messenger.
A short time ago, while in Denver,
-as taken to the stable and shown
the old stage. 1t is not much TO look
ut now The paint has been worn of
the sides, and the leather curtains,
which used 10 be neatly rolled up, now
hang down and mournfully flap in the
wind. While / stood looking at the
old stage and trying to imagine some
Of the scenes through which it had
passed. the stable door opened and an
old man entered. After ! had seen
the look of affection which he cast at
the old stage was not surprised when
my friend introduced him n Captain
Bill Cummings, the famous driver At
first Cummings seemed disinclincd 10
talk. and appeared TO think that my
questions were prompted solely by idle
curiosity, but after awhile he rclcntcd.
lie climbed up TO his old place on the
box, where he had passed through 50
many dangers, and after politely way-
ing my friend and myself 10 n couple
II empty barrels. which stood in one
corner Of the stable. he began 10 talk
YES" he said, this old stage has
seen many a fight and been through
lots Of dangers, but the toughest time
II ever had was in '76 and ~. IN
those DAYS the hills between here and
Leadville were infested by the worst
gang II stagc-robbcr, that were ever
known in this region. II was not that
they were any worse than other gangs,
but they were under the leadership oi
a man whose dcvilish cunning was
such that il seemed impossible 10 cor.
uer him or even % find out exactly who
be was. He tried it ON once too often,
however. and when bis identity was
made known after his death il turned
the whole city Of Denver upside down
for a week. There was 40 that time =
business house on Laramie street.
where all the miners went 70 get theii
supplies Thc head of IL was one Of
our most cntcrprising citizens, and was
generally respected and looked up 10.
His name was Amos V. Townsend. II
had been reported that some Of the
stage robbers had been heard 20 call
their leader Amos. but no one ever
drcamt 81 connecting the famous dos-
perado and the respected merchant 10.
gether. One night just before the stage
WAS 10 leave Denver. / was taken aside
pv friend aud was told % take parti.
uiar care. rs one of my passengers was
going 10 Leadyillc 20 purchase some
mining properties, and bad small for
tune in his belt The would-be mine
owner was pointed out 30 me. He was
q young fellow with a quiet. deter
mined appearance. who seemed well
able 20 take care Il himself Besides
him there was only one other Inside
passenger. whom ! took 10 be tender
loo, from his nervous manner and the
absence II any weapons about him.